Continuous miner for pitching seams having an angularly adjustable trimmer bar



Oct. 6, 1959 E. J. HLlNsKY 2,907,558

CONTINUOUS MINER FOR PITOHINO sEAMs HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE TRIMNER BAR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 22, 1958l 4 INVENTOR. Emil J. Hlinsky Q,)Mw

ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. J. HLINSKY ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE TRIMMER BAR Oct. 6, 1959 CONTINUOUS MINER FOR PITCHING SEAMS HAVING AN .Filed Jan. 2,2, 1958 INVENTOR. Emil J. Hlinsky ,WH qi, MM@ y ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1959 E. J. HLlNsKY 2,907,558

` CONTINUOUS MINER FOR PITCHING SEAMS HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE TRIMMER BAR Filed Jan. 22, 19.58 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 K l/v Fig. 5

JNVENToR. Emil J. Hl'msky y ATTORNEY United States Patent O CONTINU GUS MINER FOR PITCHING SEAMS HAVING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE TRIMMER BAR Emil J. Hlinsky, La Grange Park, Ill., assigner to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois `Application January 22, 1958Y Serial No. 710,536

Claims. (Cl. 262-7) This invention relates to improvements in mining machines vof the boring type and more particularly relates to such machines adapted for operation in pitching seams Yof coal. A principal object of the present invention is to pro vide a continuous mining machine of the boring type having improved support means for the upper trimmer bar accommodating the upper trimmer bar to cutat the angle of pitch of a pitching seam of coal while Vthe machine operates along the level.

A yfurther object of the invention is to provide a continuous mining machine of the boring `type in which `the upper trimmer bar is vertically adjustable, and is also t-iltable to conform to the angle of pitch of a pitching Aseam or coal.

Another object of the invention is to `provide a continuous `mining machine particularly adapted for cutting in pitching seams of coal `having an upper trimmer bar supported for vvertical adjustment on fluid operated jacks, and wherein the jacks are connected to the yupper trimmer bar by pivotal connections, one of which accommodates angular movement of the trirnmer bar about the other of said pivotal connections and relieves'binding from the jacks during operation thereof.

A' still further object of the invention is to Vprovide a continuous mining machine of the boring type in which the cusps between the boring heads are cut out by cutter chain carrying trimmer bars, in which ther upper trimmer bar is vertically and angularly adjustable with respect to -the body of the machine, to conform `to the angle of pitch yof `the pitching seam, and in 4which simplied connections are provided between the adjusting means and the trimmer bar, accommodating `free angular Amovement ofthe trimmer bar about either of the adjusting means.

These and other objects of the invention vwill appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a continuous mining machine constructed in accordance with the irivention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation, showing the adjustable mounting for the upper trimmer bar on the gear box for the machine, with certain parts broken `awayand shown in section, in order to illustrate certain details of `the invention; j

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 2p; and j Figure 5 is a diagrammatic frontend view of the machine, illustrating the operation of Vthe machine in alpitching seam of coal. .Y

In the embodiment of `the inventionillustrated in th drawings, generally designates amining machine of the 'boring type having a transversely extendingfram'e ice 2 Y .the main frame of `themachine `(.not shown.) for vertical adjustment with respect to `the ground. The Dgear Vcase l1-1 has a central throat 1,2, providing `a passageway to an inclined elevating conveyor 13, `for picking up the mined material and transporting `it beyond `the `rear end of the machine for loading into `shuttle cars (not shown) and the like.

The gear case l11 has spaced Vhubs '15 projecting forwardly therefrom, on opposite sides `of the throat 12 and the elevating conveyor 13, and forming bearing supports for spaced rotatable Vboring heads 1.6. The boring ,heads- 16 Vare positioned to `cut in intersecting paths .out'of `phase relation with respect to Aeach other, `as diagrammatically illustrated ,in Figure 5. Each yboring head ,1.6 is shown `in Figure l as `including boring cutters .17 spaced radially from the center of the hub 15, in diametrically opposed relation `with respect lto each other, and boring `cutters 19 `and 20 on the outer ends of arms J21, extending between the cutters =17 in ldametrically opposed Vrelation with respect to each other. The boring heads 16 may be of various 'forms well k-nown `to those skilled in the art, and are no part ofthe present invention so need not herein be shown or described further.

A lower transversely extending trimmer bar v22 is suitably mounted on the gear case 11 behind the boring .heads 1-6. ,The trimmer bar 22 serves as a guide for a cutter chain 23, guiding said cutter chain to cut along `the mine bottom tangentially to the cutting lpaths of the boring heads 16. Corner sprockets 24 serveV as direction changing devices about which the cutter chain 23 changes its direction of travel at opposite ends of the trimmer bar 22. The ycorner sprockets 24 may be ,mounted for retractible movement `with respect to the trimmer bar .22, to `accommodate retraction of said corner sprockets when it is desired to move the lmachine from working place to working place in `the manner upper sprockets 25 are retractibly mounted on an upper trimmer bar 27, as will now be described.

The upper trimmer bar 27 ,extends lbetween the bor;- ing heads 16 and is positioned to 4guide the ycutter chain `23 to cut tangentially vto the :cutting paths of said boring heads when inthe horizontal cutting position shown in Figure l, for cutting out the `depending cuspsof unmined coal left between the boring heads l16. t

The upper trimmer bar 27 is mounted on. the gear case fl for vertical and angular adjustment relative thereto by means of laterally `spaced hydraulic jacks 29. The jacks 29 include `cylinders 30, shown as being mounted `on the forward face of the gear casingll andextending vertically therealong in parallel spaced relation ywith respect to veach other. Piston rods 311are extensibly movable with respect `to the .cylinders 3.0, upon the admission of hydraulic lluid under pressure to the head ends of said cylinders and `are :pivotally `connected with the trimmer bar 27 for supporting yand vertically and angularly moving said cutter bar, in a manner which will hereinafter be n more clearly described as this specificationI proceeds.

in the front of a gear case 11, supported Vin advance of Thewcorner sprockets '25 are mounted on lever arms 33,`to normally be spaced .beyond opposite ends of the trimmer bar 27. Said lever arms 33 are pivotally mounted on saidtrimmer bar adjacent the 4ends thereof, on `transpvotallyconnected to arns'flV ofl latching levers l. A t 3 Pivot pins 45 pivotally mount the latching levers 44 on depending supports 46, depending from the trimmer bar `2 7, adjacent opposite endsthereof.v The latching levers 44 have upwardly extending latching arms 47 having dogging abutments 48 on the upper ends thereof, engageable Awith lugs 49 depending from the arms 33 intermediate the ends thereof. The dogging abutments 48 form stops for the lugs 49, for retaining lthe arms 33 in extended relation with respect to the trimmer bar 27 as uid is held within the cylinders 37.

The corner sprockets 25 are retractibly moved with respect to the ends of the trimmer bar 27 upon the admission of tluid under pressure to the head ends of the lcylinders 37, byvoperation` of connecting links 50. Each connecting link 50 is pivotally connected to an arm 33,

intermediate the ends thereof, on a pivot pin 51 and is pivotally connected to the dogging arm 47, intermediate lthe ends thereof, on a pivot pin 52. Thus, as lluid under pressure is admitted to the headends of the cylinders 37,

the latching levers 44 will be pivoted in an inward direction to elect movement of the clogging abutments 48 in a direction away from the lugs 49 and to accommodate retractible movement of the arms 33 and corner sprockets 25 through `.the connecting links 51 connected to the arms 33. In a contrary manner, upon the admission of :duid under pressure to the piston rod ends of the cylinders 37, the links-50 will move the latching levers 47 in an outward direction, to extensibly move the arms 33 other run of the chain is trained around a tension idler 54. The cutter chain is then trained angularly outwardly and downwardly from the sprockets 53 and 54 to and around the opposite corner sprocket 24 and along the lower trimmer -bar 22.

The tension idler 54 is shown as being mounted on a l shaft 79 carried by a take-up indicated generally by reference character 80. Said take-up is provided to takeup or release tensionv from the cutter chain 23 in accordvance with the position of the cutter bar 27 with respect fto the gear housing 11, and may be of any well known rform,l and is no part of the present invention, so need notherein bel shown or described further.

Referring now in particular to the support for the `trimmer bar 27 on the jacks 29, accommodating tilting movement of said trimmer 'bar to conform to the angle of pitch of a pitching seam of coal", the trimmer bar 27 is provided with spaced slots 55 extending vertically therethrough, for receivingenlarged connecting end portions 56 of the piston rods 31. As shown in Figures 2 and 3., the left hand piston rod 31 and connecting end portion 56 is mounted on a pivot member 57. The

"pivot member 57 has reduced diameter shaft portions 59 extending from opposite sides thereof concentric with 'the center thereof, one of which shaft portions is shown in Figure 3 as being mounted `in the trimmer bar 27 on -a bearing 60. The opposite shaft portion 59 is shown as being rotatably mounted within an end cap member 61, extending withinan opening 63 affording access to the slot 55, and retained to said trimmer bar as by cap rscrews65. y j

The right hand piston 'rod-31 and enlarged diameter connecting end portion5v6 vthereof is shown as being mounted on a pivot member 67 having shaft portions ,69 vextendingfromA opposite ends thereof, eccentric of 1 `the center of saidpivot member., The inner shaft portion 69 is 'shw'n'inFigue 4' asbe'iugrotatably mounted in 4 a bearing 70, mounted in the cutter bar 27. The opposite shaft portion 69 is shown as being rotatably mounted within an end cap 7l, mounted within an opening 73 affording access to the slot 55, and secured to said cutter bar 27, as by cap screws 75.

Thus, upon the admission of fluid under pressure to either of the cylinders 30, to angularly position the cutter bar 27 with respect to the gear casing 11 about the center of connection of either jack to the cutter bar 27, the pivot member 67 will pivot about the shaft portion 69 thereof, to conform the spacing between the centers of connection of said jacks to said cutter bar to an arc struck from the center of the pivot about which said cutter bar moves, to compensate for the increasing or decreasing distances between the centersV of the bearing members 57 and 67, due to angular movement of the cutter bar about a fixed pivot, and to thereby relieve the fluid pressure jacks 29 from lateral binding pressures thereon.

In operation of the machine to cut and load a pitching seam, as shown in Figure 5, the lower trimmer bar 22 and machine frame are level with respect to the seam, the lower trimmer bar trimming the floor to extend horizontally. The upper trimmer bar 27 is shown as being angularly adjusted to the angle of pitch of the seam. This may be attained by the admission of uid under pressure to one cylinder 29, depending upon the direction of the pitch under the operation and control of the conventional valves. When the upper trimmer bar has been adjusted to the proper angle, fluid under pressure may then be held in both ends of the two cylinders 30, to hold the upper trimmer bar 27 to position the cutter chain 23 to cut at the angle of pitch of the coal seam along the mine roof, tangenti'ally to the path of cutting `of one boring head 29 and trimming the depending cusps left between the boring heads, as well as trimming the area above the opposite boring head 29, to provide a clean roof for substantially the entire width of the machine.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it( will be understood that various modications and variations thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention, as defined by the. claims appended hereto.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine of the boring type particularly adapted for operation in pitching seams of coal and the like, a mobile frame, a pair of laterally spaced boring heads rotatably mounted on said frame for cutting con`- tiguous `bores in advance of said frame, a horizontally disposed cutter chain carrying trimmer bar for cutting a .kerf generally tangentially to the path of cutting 0f at least one of said boring heads, extensible lluid pressure jacks for vertically and angularly adjusting said trimmer bar relatively to said boring heads, individual connecting means for each jack, pivotally connecting said jacks with said trimmer bar and mounting said trimmer bar for angular adjustment about either of said connecting means,

one of'said connecting means accommodating angular a mobile frame, a pair of laterally spaced boring heads rotatably mounted on said frame for cutting contiguous bores in advance of the machine, a horizontallyV disposed cutter chaincarrying trimmer bar mounted on said frame for making a trimming cut along the mine roof generally rtangentially, to the path of cutting of at least one of said boring heads, independently operable' extensible uid pressure iacks for adjusting said trimmer bar relatively to said boring heads, pivot members connecting said jacks to said trimmer bar, one of said pivot members connecting an associated jack to said trimmer bar and mounting said trimmer bar for angular movement about an axis concentric of the center of said pivot member and the other of said pivot members connecting an associated jack to said trimmer bar and mounting said trimmer bar for angular movement about an axis displaced from the center of said pivot member and compensating for angularity of movement of said trimmer bar with respect to said jacks, upon operation of either of said jacks.

3. In a mining machine of the boring type particularly adapted for mining pitching seams of coal and the like, a mobile frame, a pair of laterally spaced boring heads rotatably mounted on said frame for cutting contiguous bores in advance of said frame, a transversely extending cutter chain carrying trimmer bar mounted on said frame for cutting generally tangentially to the extreme upper limits of the path of cutting of at least one of said boring heads, support means for said trimmer bar on said frame comprising independently operable extensible iiuid pressure jacks,rpivota1 connections between said jacks and said trimmer bar, at least one of said pivotal connections comprising a rotatable pivot member connecting an associated jack to said trimmer bar and being mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric of its center to compensate for the variations in distance between points concentric of said pivot members upon angular movement of said trimmer bar about the pivotal connection of one of said jacks with said trimmer bar.

4. In a mining machine of the boring type particularly adapted for mining in pitching seams of coal and the like, a mobile frame, a pair of laterally spaced boring heads rotatably mounted on said frame for cutting contiguous bores in advance of the machine, a horizontally disposed cutter chain carrying trimmer bar for cutting generally Atangentially to the uppermost limits of the path of cutting of at least one of said boring heads, means for supporting said trimmer bar on said frame comprising extensible fluid pressure jacks independently operable to vertically and angularly move said trimmer bar with respect to said frame, pivotal connections between said jacks and said trimmer bar comprising rotatable pivot members connecting said jacks to said trimmer bar, one of said pivot members being rotatable about an axis concentric with its center and the other of said pivot members being rotatable about `an axis eccentric of its center to accommodate angular movement of said trimmer bar about said pivot members without binding between said trimmer bar and jacks. A, 5. In a mining machine of the boring type particularl adapted for pitching seams of coal and the like, a mobile frame, a pair of laterally spaced boring heads rotatably mounted on said frame for cutting contiguous bores in advance of the machine, a horizontally disposed lower trimmer bar mounted on said frame for cutting the upy standing cusp left between said boring heads, an angular-ly movable upper trimmer bar adjustably mounted on said frame for cutting at the angle of pitch of the pitching seam along the mine roof, means supporting said upper trimmer bar on said frame and vertically and angularly adjusting said trimmer bar with respect to said frame comprising laterally spaced fluid pressure jacks operable independently of each other having cylinders rigidly mounted on said frame and piston rods extensible therefrom, spaced pivot members mounted on said trimmer bar and forming pivotal connections between said piston rods and said trimmer bar, at least one of said pivot members being rotatable relative to said trimmer `bar and piston rod about an axis eccentric of its center.

No references cited. 

